Clothespin



July 4; 1933. L. G. COPEMAN CLOTHESPIN Filed May 5, 1950 INVENTOR iyd G Coeman,

Patented July 4i, llf

ATES

unirse terasse LLOYD G. COFEMAN. 0F FLINT, `.lizIICH('A .`N',` ASSIGNOR TO CGPEMAN LABORATORIES COMPANY, OF FLINT, MICHIGAN, .A CGRPORATION 0F MICHIGAN CLOTHESPIN lApplication led Hay 5, 1930. Serial No. 449,834.

rlhis invention relates to clothes pins, and pertains particularly to permanent nonbreakable clothes pins.

The standard wood clothes pin is open to many objections including splintering, easy breakage, discoloring and tearing of the` clothes. lVooden clothes pins having Iresiliently mounted relatively movable clamping members have practically the same disadvantages except that it is possible to obtain a much firmer grip upon the clothes. It has also been proposed to mold clothes pins and give the same such shape as to tend to prevent rupturing at the bight.

It is the objectof the present invention to provide a clothes pin whichembodies the advantages of a spring pressed wood clothes pin without any of its disadvantages and which also gives better results than a divided wood clothes pin in that it is integral, is permanent so as to last indefinitely, is of such material that it will never injure the clothes and will readily give when necessary.

More specifically, the present invention embodies the use of molded rubber in the fabrication of a novel clothes pin. rlhe advantages of such a clothes pin include leg portions or tongues which resiliently grasp the clothes Without forcing and without tearing of the clothes. Other advantages include the novel results obtained because vof the material of the clothes pin as compared to wood or other non-elastic material.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is an elevation of one form of clothes pin embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a modification similar to Fig. 1 with the exception that the pin is formed of two parts molded together.

- Fig. 3 illustrates a further modification in that additional spring means 'are embodied as an integral part of the rubber pin.

Fig. 4 shows a further embodiment of the invention and illustrates the Wide adaptability of rubber in the forming of a clothes 1n. p Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 3.

Onepf the essential features of the present lnventlon is that the clothes pin, Whatever may be its molded form, consists mainly of rubber. The consistency of such rubber may obviously vary considerably and still accomplish the main results as hereinafter set forth. @ne of themain features of the invention 1s the obtaining of an improved resilient grasping action of the legs or tongue members at a point adjacent t he mouth of the pm. ln Fig. 1 l accomplish this result by molding an integral clothes pin l having integral members or tongues 2 whichpreferably converge as at 3 to form a grasping point and which diverge as at 4 to form a suitable mouth for receiving the clothes and the (lothes line. In molding this integral article the tongues 2 are preferably shaped as 'to touch or substantially touch at the point 3. In addition to the peculiar shape of the leg members, the resiliency at the point 3 is preferably maintained by the forming of suitable reinforcing ribs 5. These ribs 5 are adapted to resiliently resist outward movement of the leg members 3. In addition to the space 6. an Venlarged aperture 7 is preferably formed at the juncture of the legs so as to make room for the clothes line or Wire.

The rubber material forming the clothes pin is 'preferably elastic so that in addition to the normal resiliency of the leg members the surface of the pin itself is adapted to give slightly so as to provide an extremely ettcient grip for all types of clothes from sheer thin stockings to the heaviest of materials.

In order to more positively obtain resiliency of the leg members at the point 3 .the clothes pin may be formed in two separate halves so that when the two halves are brought together the leg members 2 are caused to bear with considerable force against each other. As shown in Fig. 2, the clothes pins may be split as at 8 so that two similarly molded halves may be brought together and vulcanized, glued, or otherwise secured to form a permanent clothes pin.

If, in forming the inte ral type of rubber clothes pin a greater resi iency 1s .desired at the mouth of the in, suitable spring members 9 may be embed ed in the pin when initially molded. Su'ch spring members 9"may be 'oined in one piece, as best shown at 10, in

It will be understood that in additionto obtaining the novel practical results by forming the clothes pin of rubber, that the mold-l ing of this rubber 'permits of widely varying shapes and design's'of the clothes pin and in Fig. 4 I have illustrated one manner of molding a novelty rubber clothes pin. As rubber clothes pins are permanent and can be easily washed, it will be understood that the fact that the pin may be lnolded into any suitable design or shape without any additional time or expense will prove a great advantage in this type of 'clothes pin. In addition to any ornamental or practical shape, it will be also understood that the rubber may be given any color or combination of colors.

It will thus be seen that I have provided av clothes pin which can be readily and easily j molded Afrom relatively inexpensive grades of rubber. Such rubber clothes pin isV permanent, can be placed in the ordinary wash tub ,and boiled, and will never break. In addition to the resiliency obtained from the peculiar shape and arrangement of the legs or 3o tongue members the elasticity of the rubber itself provides a much better grip on the clothes. Furthermore, the rubber surface at the mouth of-the clothes pin will securely and positively grip the clothes without any harmful effect thereon and clearly there will be no tearing or ripplng of the clothes as is a common result from wood clothes pins.

What I claim is:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a rubber clothes pin having downwardy extending similarly shaped leg members with converging inner faces, said leg members being substantially in contact with eachother at said converging faces, said leg members having diverging end portions, and said leg members being normally spaced apart from their converging faces to their junction with the body of the clothes pin, the space at said junction constitutingan opening of a size to receive a clothes-line.

2. A clothes pin of molded rubber comprising a body portion, a pair of legs extending from the body portion, said legs being space apart where they join the body portion to afford reception of the clothes line, said legs having inner faces which converge from the body portion throughout the greater portion of their length to a point substantially in,

contact with each other, said faces diverging .from 'said point to the extreme ends of the legs, said body of molded rubber being selfsustaining and inherently providing gripping action of the legs for clothes or the like disposed between them.

A clothes pin of molded rubber comprisf ing a body portion, a. pair of legs extending from the bodyportion, said legs being spaced apart where they join the body portion to afford reception of a clothes line, said legs having inner faces which converge from the body portion throughout the greater portion of their length to a. point substantially in contact with each other, said faces diverging from said. point to the extreme ends of the legs, said body of molded rubber being selfsustaining and inherently providing gripping er length of the legs to a point of contact,-

said legs being held tensioned in contact with each other upon the uniting of the half body portlons, said inner faces diverging from the point of contact to the extreme ends of the legs.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature.

LLOYD G. COPEMAN. 

